Channing Tatum Eyes the Coen Brothers’ Hail Caesar

Channing Tatum, Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes look to be the latest names to join the cast of Joel and Ethan Coen’s, Hail Caesar. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that all three are negotiating to appear opposite the already-attached George Clooney and Josh Brolin.

Hail Caesar follows a man named Eddie Mannix in his job as a Hollywood fixer in the 1950s. That’s somewhat different than the news reported when word of the project first appeared in 2005. It was then suggested that the film would focus on a group of theater actors in the 1920s as they put together a play about ancient Rome. It’s a good possibility that the Roman-themed play will now appear in the story as a Hollywood production.

Clooney previously dubbed Hail Caesar the conclusion of his “idiot trilogy,” with the Coens, following 2000’s O Brother, Where Art Thou? and 2003’s Intolerable Cruelty. Of course, since then he starred in their Burn After Reading, so the “trilogy” bit may now be a misnomer.

Tatum’s part is that of a Hollywood star, likened in the trade to Gene Kelly. Fiennes, meanwhile, will play a director named Laurence Lorenz while Swinton will play a gossip columnist.